Smith, who at a hearing in January characterized the crimes as being “vicious, brutal and violent” invasions of the victims’ homes involving weapons and terrorizing the victims, ordered all three men detained pending further proceedings.

That order remains in force.

The trio are charged in a sealed indictment returned Feb. 10 with conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping individuals identified in the indictment as “T.M.” and “W.D.” They’re accused of holding the men for ransom and using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

The indictment charged the defendants forcibly entered the Richmond Hill home of “T.M.” on Dec. 1, abducted him at gunpoint and held him in a trailer home in Pembroke.

He was released in Bulloch County after a business associate paid $19,000 for his release, the indictment charged.

Between Jan. 12-13, the defendants forcibly entered the Pembroke home of “W.D.” and abducted him at gunpoint, the indictment charged.

The defendants ordered his wife to pay a $250,000 ransom, instructing her to take the money to a drop site in Chatham County, then released “W.D.” at a Bryan County location, the indictment charged.

According to the indictment, Nelson on Jan. 22 received and possessed $2,000 in U.S. currency, knowing it came from a kidnapping.

It also alleges that $2,000 was seized from Nelson’s home; about $10,000 seized from Angel Williams and another $1,876 seized from the Murray’s home on Jan. 22.

Prosecutors want that money forfeited to the government along with a 2002 Cadillac DeVille and a golf cart with custom wheels.